Mushi mushi,
When I was twenty years old, I had a low grade epiphany. I was working part time, going to university… and that was about it. I kept having terrible flashbacks of the mother of a guy I dated when I was seventeen. She was so…. boring. Her life- her hair, her clothes, her house, the food she cooked- it was all grey, and always the same, day in and day out.
It terrified me. She was just so…. sad.
It scared me enough that I broke up with her son.
He was a bit of a dickwad, anyway.
It actually seems terribly conceited and judgmental now, as things often do with the clarity of perfect hindsight. Dickwad’s mum may not have been unhappy at all- she had her kids, her family, her husband, and was probably pretty content with her lot in life.
But that is entirely beside the point.
The nagging memory of the grey women acted as the perfect catalyst for me to make the decision to put some sparkle back into my life. Since leaving high school at eighteen, I had gotten real old, real quick. I no longer did spontaneous things. It felt like I no longer laughed at anything really funny, I just tittered along with the crowd. I was existing, untouched and uninspired.
I could not, and still cannot, think of a fate worse than a boring, wishy washy life.
I was scared right into making a list. A list of things I wanted to do with my life, while I still had a life to do things with. Because you just never know when you are going to be hit by a bus or a cement truck or a fallling refrigerator something.
A Bucket list. Not that I called it that at the time, this was long before the movie came out.
Before I share my list with you, reader-ers, I would like to point out that one of my motto’s in life is- Expect nothing and you will not be disappointed. I aim low. And I’m quite OK with that.
Like I said, I aim low.
But one.
Including, I might add, “learn to play a musical instrument.” Because the ukulele totally counts.
Yuh uh. Like I said, scary.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Here is a great place to create, manage and share your bucket list. You can also get some interesting ideas to put on your bucket list from others.
Check it out.
http://www.sharebuckets.com
Great post, lori. The use of the word "dickwad" made me laugh out loud. you write really well.
http://marketingtomilk.wordpress.com
Awesome!
Love the pink motorcycle! I don't think you're aiming low at all. You know what that means? It means you're easily contented. The fact that you set goals and did them means you can do whatever you set your mind to do and if you ever did decide to do bigger things, like travel around the world, or start a charity, or whatever, you'd probably do it. Right now you're content with a pink motorbike and raising your kidlets and there ain't nothin wrong with that, sister.
But definitely start another list to ward off the guy in black!
Lori, you are awesome.
That is all.
Hugs,
Me
Wow, thats pretty great. Well done- looking forward to seeing what the next list entails. And I'd better write one too…
Really pleased I've found your blog!
I don't have a bucket list but I have been doing the 101 things in 1001 days. That keeps me busy enough
Loving the furry bike!
Looking forward to the new list!
BTW, I think you should do the painted toe nail thing, before you're too old to reach your toes! Hehe
When you do get your pink motorbike. Will you promise to give me a ride?
That's when you do a 101 in 1001 list, and when that's done you do another one….
Speaking of I need to sort mine out again.
My bucket list item number 323 to have 3 babies in quick succession is nearly complete, so I look forward to moving onto 324 – raising them and keeping them out of jail! lol x
Never stop making bucket lists.
you have once again inspired me Lori! I'm off to start my list this afternoon! xx
My bucket list is ridiculously long, just keep adding to it. They don't have to be BIG things (like riding a motorbike) it can be going to a restaurant you've always wanted to try, learning a new skill (props to you for the sign language BTW!) or making a new friend. Good on you!
Have just been catching up with all your posts, Lori! (Loved the Post-Its BTW!)
I think lists like this are great. I once saw a woman's list on the Ellen Show. Ellen was helping her cross out some of them (eg, Meet Ellen – surprisingly). Anyway, it's good to have some goals, hon!
And well done you! But don't worry about "not aiming high" because, who is to say you haven't? We shouldn't base our benchmark on life on everyone elses.
As for me? hmmm. I'd have to think about my list some more. I'm pretty happy with what I've done so far, but I think some more travelling would be involved. There's so much to see out there.
Oh, and I'd love to meet Henry Cavill, and have him fall in love with me. Even if I can't reciprocate those feelings, being a happily married woman and all.
Yeah. That's gonna happen.